Wheels and wings 24

Character List.

Jack Thomas Later AKA Ellie Transvestite/intersexual and keen cyclist.
Amanda Thomas AKA Amie Jack's sister.
Charlotte Dawson Keen girl cyclist and Jack’s soon-to-be girlfriend.
Bob Cycling club captain.
Mr Thomas Weston School games master and keen rugby player.
Billy Davies. Rugby ‘jock’, kind to Jack, he fancies Charlotte.
Marjorie Spencer. Holder of unofficial ‘Prettiest-girl-in-the-school’ title.
Miss Elizabeth Postlethwaite. The English Mistress.
Aunty Olwen Where Jack changes for school and leaves his bike.
Mandy. Olwen’s daughter, Jack’s older cousin.
Mr Griffiths The County solicitor.

Chapter 24

The panel vote was a formality. All the county education officials and the county solicitor lined up with Mr Weston, Miss Postlethwaite and the remaining teachers in agreeing to Ellie’s future attendance as a girl. Mr Williams, the Headmaster was left isolated as the only dissenting voice. Ellie could sense that the issue was not completely dead and buried in the headmasters eyes but for now she had the law on her side and the teaching staff. The bullying issues would have to wait and Ellie knew they were certain to come. Outside the meeting, Mr Griffiths the county solicitor approached Ellie, her mother and Miss Postlethwaite.

“You did very well in there young lady. Might I suggest you consider a career in law when you leave school?”

Ellie smiled wanly and shrugged uncertainly before confessing.

“I prefer maths and sciences.”

“Mmm. Strange that for a girl, you’d be a great loss to the legal profession.”

Even as he finished the words he felt Ellie and Elizabeth Postlethwaite bristle with indignation and he quickly moved to correct himself.

“Sorry, quite crass of me, that was a bit of the ‘old school’ sexist coming out in me. Sorry again, I - more than anybody - should have shed all these antiquated prejudices but sometimes, just sometimes, I make a mistake. Hope you’ll forgive. I’m truly on your side young lady, I just see you and your transgendered siblings taking the baton forwards.”

Ellie frowned thoughtfully.

“I don’t see that there’s a baton to be carried. Isn’t the race won, for everybody? I mean you made it clear in there. I saw you giving the deputy director of education a stern look when he might have stepped outside the guidelines. The law is already on my side.”

Mr Griffiths raised mildly surprised eyebrows.

“My, you are an astute young lady aren’t you? Well, yes, you’re half right; the law is on your side ... here; here that is, in Britain and in many other countries, but it’s not so in other countries.”

It was Elizabeth’s turn to reply.

“Well I don't see why the situations in other countries should concern young Miss Ellie here. Are you some sort of crusader Mr Griffiths? You somehow want this young girl to join your cause?”

“I might ask the same of you Miss Postlethwaite. Would you ever consider taking the fight abroad, to say - Africa for instance.

You and I are on the same side as it were are we not? I see you were quite prepared to advocate on Miss Ellie’s behalf. You were only doing what I have been doing for nearly forty years. Advocating for gay rights.”

Elizabeth’s mood suddenly softened as the dawning light popped in her brain.

“You mean you’re ... well I’ll be buggered.”

Mr Griffiths smiled benignly as he scolded her softly as Ellie stifled a snigger.

“Tut tut Miss Postlethwaite, such language from a lady and an English student to boot. Might I invite you and your young acolyte to take tea with me as well as Mrs Thomas here?”

He turned to Ellie’s mother and extended the invitation.

“You have an excellent daughter here Mrs Thomas, you can be proud of her.”

Ellie was now almost in tears with relief as she realised there were forces working in her favour that she had never imagined. Eagerly she accepted the invitation and hugged herself with sheer delight for she could not believe her good fortune. A brief phone call to her younger sister Amie extracted an envious squeal as she mentioned the restaurant.

“What you’re going there! You lucky bitch, wish I could join you.”

“Hold on,” Ellie giggled, “I’ll get you an invitation.”

She turned to her mother and asked if Amie could join them. Mr Griffiths grinned benignly and nodded. Ten minutes later they were enjoying a delightful tea in a very popular cafe where the girls learned that Sandy, the proprietor was Mr Griffith’s boyfriend.
Over a delicious tea, plans and strategies were laid for the future and Ellie was desperately grateful for Mr Griffith’s expert help. Eventually the conversation came around to Charlotte and here the wise old man recognised his limitations. He threw up his arms in admission.

“Sorry ladies, I am hopelessly unqualified in the female emotion stakes. I’m just a guy, and a gay guy to boot.”

All the women fell to giggling as the meal broke up and Ellie returned home in a happy mood save for one issue ... Charlotte.

~~ooo000ooo~~